Circuit breaker



W. O. HENSCHKE CIRCUIT BREAKER Feb. 20, 1951 Filed May 8, 1946 INVENTOR. WILLIAM O. HENSCHKE.

ATTOF/VEX Patented F eb. 20, 1951 William 01 Henschite; Lcngmeadom signer" to Mexican B Massa, as-

osch Corporation,- spring field; Mass, a corporation of. N ew' York- Application-May 8;. 1946, Serial No; 6683711 Claims (o1. zoo--30) invention relates to electrical circuit i'r'iterrupters or breakers of the type used for maring and breaking an electric circuit in the ignition system of an internal combustion engine and has particular reference totheprovisional? a new and improved interrupter or breaker of'the pivot-- less type; I

An object of the invention is to provide an interrupter or breaker of the type set forth wherein the sliding motion between the camronower and the contact carryi'ng lever sub stantially' reduced or eliminated thereby substantialiy reducing or eliminatingthe Iubricm tion requirements at this; pointwl rfch lllb'rica tion has" been the source of considerable difficulty and trouble in prior constructions. K

Another object of the invention to provide a device of the typeset forth which isrel'atiyely s'im'le and econcmicai to manufacture yet of ficient in operation and which means is pro vided for giving greateststrength or reinforcement at the point where it is most needed on the levers and also for controlling' the cantilever action of" the cam' follower lever and tending to" retain the cam ronower block in a radial line'- with the cam yet being so arranged that the levers can each be made of a single piece of material;

Another object or the invention is to providea mounting for a device of the character set forth on its mounting block or support which. tends to reducec'ont'act bounce upon the closure or the contacts; 7

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction of the type set forth wherein a single combined pivot and fastener may be era-' ployed whereby the cam icnower: may be ad= j usted in a line radial to the cam and; which also" tends to reduce contact bounce as set forth above.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection the accompanying drawings. It will be:- understood: that some changes may be made in the detailsof' construction and arrangement of parts as the preferred form of the invention has been shown by way of illustration only.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig; 1 is a topor plan view of an interrupter or breaker constructed according to the invennon;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. I but showing a different cam follower arrangement;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side view taken along lines 33 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 a sectional" view, orr an erilarged scale, taken on line 4 =4 cfFig. 1 lboking'in the (find tion of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on line 5--5 of Fig; 1-, looking in the=direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; v p

Referring more" particularly to' the drawings wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the device shown embodying the inventionin Fig. 1' comprises the breaker plate or supporting member I of the usual type, on which is'mounted' the interrupter or breaker bracket 2.

The breaker is mounted onthe support or bracket 2 which is secured to the supporting. member I by only a single solid fastening which, as shown, is the screw 3' extending through the pivot 4 for the support 2', and then screwedinto the plate I. The rivet 5 having the slotted eccentric head 6' is positioned in a slot 1' in the support 2 and facilitates adjustmentof the sup port 2 relative to the contact opening cam 8. On the support 2 is the upturnedflange 9 car rying the stationary contact I01 7 Adjacent the op osite endof their support 2'- a'nother upturned flange II having an opening through which extends the bolt [2 which isi'n sulated 'fromthe flange ll by" the insulating washers t3 and I4. Also mounted on the belt I 2 are the flexible levers or cantilevers l5 and it which are insulated from the flange H by the block 14 of insulating material and from the" terminal l8 by the insulator IS. The lock washer 20 and nut 2| serve to retain the arts in as-- sembled relation on the flange H and bolt II.

The cantilever l 6 carries the second contact- 22" which is normally in engagement with the first contact In due tothe resiliency of the cantilever [6.7 The said cantilever I6 is preferably made by forming from a single piece of material and has the integral marginal flanges 23 along its sides for greater reinforcement and strength; The greatest width of fiangepr reinforcement 23 is provided at substantially the point where the cantilever H; is engaged by the cam follow'erbloelk 2-4 for separating the contact 22 from the con tact in and the flanges 23 taper in each direction from that point thus giving greatest strength at the point it is most needed and yetn'ot materially detracting from the resiliency of the cantilever l 6 nor unduly adding weight thereto.

The cantilever l5 has the cam follower block 24 secured by rivets or other suitable means to its end opposite the end of the cantilever which is connected to the bolt 12. This cantilever 15 may be provided with the central rib or reinforcement 25, see Fig. 5, which extends from the block 24 a, desired distance toward the connection of the opposite end of the cantilever 19 with the bolt l2. Because of this rib or reinforcement 25, the cantilever l tends to retain the cam follower block 24 in a radial line with the cam 8 and this reinforcement 25 also allows a more accurate control of the spring or cantilever arm 15 thus allowing the arm to bend only where desired, that is, near the point of its being secured to the bolt 12 thus insuring control of the direction of movement of the block 24 and because of this and also because both levers l5 and 16 turn on substantially a common center any relative sliding motion between the follower block 24 and contact carrying lever 16 is either eliminated or substantiallytreduced which in turn eliminates or substantially reduces the lubrication requirements at this point.

vIn the construction shown in Fig. l the lever I5 is so positioned as to resiliently the block 24 in engagement with the periphery of the cam at all times whereas in the construction shown in Fig. 2, this lever i5 is so positioned as to urge the block 24 in engagement with the lever It at all times and only engages the cam when the contacts are to be separated. I

Another feature of the present invention is that because the block 24 is positioned between the bolt [2 and contacts l0 and 22 the cam lift of the lever 16 will be even greater than the motion of the lever :6 at the point of engagement with the follower block 24. a

It is particularly pointed out that due to the fact that the bracket 2 is fastened to the supporting member I by the single solid fastening 3 and at one point only, that this construction will tend to reduce contact bounce on closure of the contacts because of the damping action between the unsecured portion of the contact bracket or sup-- port 2 and the base or supporting member i onwhich it is mounted.

From the foregoing it will be seen that have provided simple, efiicient and economical means for obtaining all of the objects and advantages of the invention.

Having described my invention, I claim: 1.'In an electric circuit breaker mechanism for internal combustion engines, a bracket, a pair of make and break contacts in alignment with each other and normally in contact with each other, one of said contacts being secured to said bracket, means whereby said bracket may be adjusted as a unit to allow the adjustment of said mechanism without altering the relation of the contacts, a cam follower block, a leaf spring supporting follower block, a second leaf spring supporting the other of said contacts and adapted to be engaged by said follower block to separate said contacts, said leaf springs having end portions secured to said bracket in substantially adjacent relation and being adapted to turn about a substantially common center and thereby reduce relative sliding motion between the follower block and, contact supporting leaf spring when the block engages the leaf spring to separate the contacts.

.12. In an electric circuit breaker mechanism for internal combustion engines, a bracket, a pair of make and break contacts normally in fixed alignment with each other, a leaf spring supporting one of said contacts for movement relative to the other of said contacts, one of said contacts being secured to said bracket, means whereby said bracket may be adjusted as a unit to allow adjustment of said mechanism without altering the relation of the contacts, a cam follower, a second leaf spring supporting said follower, said leaf springs being secured to said support in substantially adjacent relation, said follower being adapted to engage said contact supporting leaf spring to cause relative movement of the contacts, said contact supporting leaf spring having reinforcing means with the point of greatest strength at substantially the location where said follower engages said leaf spring.

3. In an electric circuit breaker mechanism for internal combustion engines, a-pair of make and break contacts, a leaf spring supporting one of said contacts for movement relative to the; other of said contacts, a cam follower, a second leaf spring supporting said follower, said follower being adapted-to engage said contactsup porting leaf spring to cause relative movement of the contacts, said leaf springs being secured to said support in substantially adjacent relation, said contact supporting leaf spring having reinforcing means with the point of greatest strength at substantially the location where said follower engages said leaf spring and saidrein forcement tapering in both directions therefrom.;- 4. In an electric circuit breaker mechanism for internal combustion engines, a pair of make and break contacts, a leaf spring supporting one of said contacts for movement relative to theother of said contacts, a camfollower adapted to cause movement of said contact supporting leaf spring, said leaf springs being secured to said support in substantially adjacent relation, said contact supporting leaf spring having flanged reinforcing means with the greatest reinforcing, strength located substantially at the point where said cam follower is adapted to enga e said leaf; spring. 5. In an electric circuit breaker mechanism, or; internal combustion engines, a pair of makeand break contacts, a leaf spring supporting one [of said contacts for movement relative to the other of said contacts, a cam follower adapted to cause movement of said contact supporting leaf spring, said leaf springs being secured to said support in substantially adjacent relation, said contact sup porting leaf spring having flanged reinforcing means with the greatest reinforcing strength located substantially at the center of said contact supporting leaf springs 1 1 WILLIAM 0. HENsc KE."

REFERENCES CITED' The following references :are of record in the file of this patent: UNITED STATES PATENTS H Number Name Date 1,981,042 Hartzell Nov.'20, 1934 2,063,320 Loudon Dec. 8, 1936 2,129,953 Mack Sept. 13, 1938 2,191,087 Spengler Feb. 20, 1940 2,290,469.

Griesbach July 21,1942 

